New Trails Open Along Blue Ridge Parkway

LINVILLE, N.C. -- Three new trails have opened along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the trails opened over the weekend after a nine-year effort by a coalition of private citizens, environmental groups and the state.

The group amassed nearly 1,600 acres to create the trails, which are located between Linville and just south of the Virginia line.

Salisbury philanthropist Fred Stanback says the new pathways are an invitation for people to get out of their cars and experience the wonders of the Blue Ridge.

The trails are designed for casual hikers and families. Rose Creek Trail is a 1.3-mile loop rated as easy to hike. The two-mile Little Table Rock and Saddle Mountain trails are rated moderate. They're well-marked and accessible from either the parkway or nearby roads.